FORECASTING NON-WORK PUBLIC TRANSIT DEMAND BY THE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED

This paper summarizes a recent survey of 165 randomly selected elderly and handicapped individuals in the Albany, New York, SMSA. Respondents were administered a short (six minute) questionnaire on non-work travel habits, perceived barriers to travel, and intended travel if barriers were removed. Four disaggregate models were constructed relating total travel and mode choice to system demongraphic, mode availability, and physical handicap factors. Results show: (1) Contrary to present thinking, the elderly and handicapped vary widely in mobility problems and travel patterns: there is no homogeneity within each group; (2) Transportation solutions will thus have to be carefully designed and tailor-fit; (3) Travel mobility is primarily a function of physical disability, availability of auto, and the individual's ability to use it; (4) Specific bus service improvements will not materially affect transit demand, but will ease the travel burden; (5) Improvements concentrating on service availability and direct pickup appear to be the most promising; (6) Small-sample disaggregate models can be developed which will predict elderly and handicapped non-work travel and mode choice with a high degree of accuracy.

• Corporate Authors:

  New York State Department of Transportation

  Planning Division, State Campus, Building 4
  Albany, NY  United States  12232
• Authors:
  • Hartgen, D T
  • Pasko, M
  • Howe, S M
• Publication Date: 1976-8

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 44 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged; Disaggregate analysis; Forecasting; Persons with disabilities; Public transit; Travel demand
• Old TRIS Terms: Disaggregate models
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00142383
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 15 1981 12:00AM